Life-boat.



B.. 1).'MAY0.

LIFE BOAT.

APPLIQATIDNFILBD Nov. 2s, 1904.

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n.11. MAYO.

LIFE BOAT. APLIOAVTION FILED NOV'. 28; 1904..

Patented sep1;.29;19o8;

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R D. MAYO.

'LIFE BOAT.' V APPLICATION FILED NDV. 28, 1904.

Patented sept. 29, 1908.

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l ROBERT DAVID MAYO; OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

LIFE-B OAT.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. 29, 1908.

Application led November 28, 1904. Serial No. 234,443.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT 4DAVID MAYO, a citizen of the United States,residing at Toledo, Lucas county, Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements inl Life-Boats, of which the following is aspeciiication that will enable those skilled in the art to which theinvention pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part thereof. l v

This invention relates t0 the class of life boats in which is employedan outer cylindrical shell provided with an inner carriage or cradlewhich is supported in the shell and is capableof independent rotarymovement about the axis thereof.

The principal object of this invention is to construct the outer 'shellof sheet metal or other suitable sheet material, in knockdown ordetachable sections so that it may be constructed in parts that may bepacked in small compass for transportation and thereafter readilyassembled and connected to form the boat.

A further ob'ect of this invention is to strengthen the s eet metalshell without the employment of other devices that would obstruct freepassage through the boat from end to end, or access to its entire innersurface.

A further robject of this invention is to provide suitable means forvthe introduction and circulation of air through the boat, while watershipped in at the air openings in the shell is caught and dischargedthrough proper scupper p1pes.

A further object of this invention 1s to provide an inner carriage orcradle that will be supported by, but revolve independently of the shellupon annular rings built into the shell, and to provide said carriagewith a central hollow rib or keel structure, and with side seatstructures, `both of which are divided by transverse partitions intocompartments adapted to contain supplies of food or water, or to receiveand hold air tight tanks.

The further objects of this invention consist in such details ofconstruction andassemblage of parts as shown in the drawings and as willhereinafter be fully described and claimed.

The accompanying drawings show this invention in such general form anddetails of construction as now appear most desirable, but changes, notrequiring the exercise of invention, might be made therein by a skilfulmechanic without departing from the spirit of my invention, as set forthin the claims at the end of this specification'.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section throughv a life boat embodying thefeatures of this invention. Fi 2 is a transverse section of the same ontheine 2, 2 of Fig.` 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on enlarged scalev ofthe details of one of the annular seam joints rein- `forced by theannular roller ring. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the same on the line4, 4 of Fig. 3. Fi 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section'on t e line 5,5 of Fig. 6 of one end of the outer shell etc. of the boat, preferablythe rear end. Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the same on the line 6,6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a view of a portion of the inner face of theshell showing the crossing of a longitudinal and an annular seam orjointy in the shell. Fig. 8 is a perspective view, on reduced scale, ofone ofthe sheet metal side-plate sections of the outer shell, detached.Fig. 9 is a similar View of the meeting point of four of such sectionsor side-plates and the meeting or intersecting point of the longitudinaland annular seams. Fig. 10 is a view in sectional elevation on enlargedscale, of the ends of one abutting pair of side plates. Fig. 11 is adetail view showing the joining of the sectional ribs of the shell toeach other and to the longitudinal tee irons.

A life boat embodying this invention consists, mainly, of an outercylindrical shell A, with rounded or spherical head or end sections B,and an inner carriage or series of carriages C, Supportedl from theouter shell in such manner as to be free to rotate independently aboutthe aXis thereof.

The principal object of my invention is to so construct the outer shellin knock-down" sections that may be taken apart and closely packed forshipment and reassembled and connected at the point where used. To this'end I make the boat shell in several longitudinal sections or lengths;the two rounded ends B being preferably made in separate sections andthe intermediate portion of the shell in one, or as many more sectionsas may be deemed desirable a standard size for such a boat would beabout thirty feet in length, over all, and about six and one half feetin diameter, and such a boat would preferably have its central portion Amade in two longitudinal sections.

' In addition to dividing the shell into the longitudinal and endsections, just described, l also divide the circumference of each ofthese sections and ends into sub sections or plates D, Fig. 10, whichrun lengthwise of the shell and around the rounded ends as will beeasily understood. In each section these plates are united by means ofoutwardly turned side ilanges d,between which, in assembling, is locatedthe web e of a tee iron bar which runs from the bow to the stern of theshell, and has its foot or base e lying inside of the shell. A U shapedwale strip e2 embraces the projecting edges of the flanges and tee iron,and has flanged feet bases e3 which bear against the outer surfaces ofthe plates and are secured in position by rivets or bolts as desired.-It is preferable to cover the outer surface of the shell plates with acovering a, of asbestos-wool and canvas, and when this is used, thecovering extends under the bases of the wale strips and serve as gasketpackings to assist in making water-tight joints at these points, asshown in Figs. 9 and l0.

In practice I prefer to divide each part and end piece of the boat shellfor a boat of the size mentioned, into say eight sections, so that therewill be eight longitudinal seams E,

' such as just described, running the entire length of the shell,

length of the boat from bow to stern, but it must be understood that thetee irons e, e are the only continuous members in such seams. E runningthe give it additional stiffness and projecting, as they do, fromtheouter surface, they act as keels or fins, and check the rolling slipof the shell in the water thus `making the boat a much steadier sailer.

In addition to the side seams just described, the several longitudinalsections of the shell are oined by inturned annular flanges f, formed onthe ends of the several plate sections, see Figs. 8, 9 and l0. Theselangesf,

'when the plates of two shell sections are brought together, form acontinuous annular rim F, of double thickness which is embraced by a Ushaped annular ring f', and all secured in place and held together bysuitable rivets 'or bolts, as desired.

Where the flanges f meet at the longitudivnal seams, each flange end isrecessed or undercut as at f2 to permit of the passage of the foot orbase e of the continuous tee irons of thel longitudinal seams and if thelegs of the U shaped ring f extend far enough they too must be notchedfor these tee irons.

The end sections B of the shell, are round-` ed as shown and providedwith end openings l, b', the opening b at the stern being large enoughto admit of the passage of a man while the bow opening b/ is intendedprincipally for a hawse opening and for Ventilating purposes. In theseend sections are secured inwardly projecting tubes G, G, provided attheir inner ends with inturned annular flanges g, the openings throughwhich are smaller in diameter than the adjacent portion of the tube.These tubes may be made conical, as shown at G, in Figs. l, 5 and 6, orthey may be plain cylindrical tubes as shown at G/ in Fig. 1, but ineither event, the opening in the flange g must be smaller in diameterthan the tube in order to check such water as may be driven into theouter open end of the tube, which, it is contemplated,will be left openat all times except in extremely rough weather, when they may be stoppedor closed by plugs or doors of any desired form. In these tubes G, G areformed at or near their largest diameters, series of holes g connectedby radiating scupper through the shell. 'lhese scupper pipes serve todrain oil water which may find its way into the tubes, and also to admitair for ventilating the vessel; the lowern'iost pipes at any time actingas drains, while the others are open to the air.

The inner ends of the tubes G, G are braced from the shell by radialrods (/4, sc-

cured at one end to the pipes, and at their other ends to the inturnedannular jointfl ange F of the shell,which affords a convenient means forattachment. This also aids to stiffen the entire shell structure at thispoint, the rods g* serving to brace the shell itself as well as hold thetubes in position. j

In 'order to further provide against the ingress of water through theend tubes into the living space in the shell catch basins H are providedand mounted upon the flanges (1 as follows: On each flange is mounted acollar H preferably made of two stamped sheet metal rings 7L withclosely abutting ribs z/ at their inner edges. Between these rings areanti-friction rollers h2 carried by bearing pins ha which pass throughthe rings and are provided with clamping nuts h". These rollers run uponthe inner edges of the flanges q and give free rotary motion to thecollars. At the outer edge of each collar ring is an annular gasket orpacking ring h5, of soft material adapted to make a water tight jointwith the flange g at this point. This collar may be clamped tight to theflange and its indepcnd ent rotation stopped by tightening the nuts h4on the roller pins.

rlhe basins H have flanged ribs 7i which rest against the inner faces ofthe collars and afford means for detachably securing the basins to thecollars; and they are also provided with means for connecting the basinsto the carriages or cradles so that they shall rotate in unisontherewith and always rcmain right side up, as will hereinafter beexplained.

It will be observed that the lips 727 of the basins stand through thecollars so that any water from the basin will discharge outside of theflanges g and into the spaces drained by the scupper pipes.

sengers are carried in the vessel are located in the shell between theflanges g, g, of the end tubes, and these carriages are so mounted inthe shell that they maintain a position below the axis of the'shellregardless of the rolling motion of the shell.

In order that the space for the carriages in the shell may be clear fromend to end, and unobstructed by bulkheads7 open frames or other likesupports the carriages C are supported by rings I mounted upon annularrings or flanges J, which are secured to the sidesl of the shell. withflanged feetj which bear against the shell sides, and with webs y" whichbear against the inturned shell flanges F, and with flanged heads jz,which overhang the feet, and form tracks for the antifriction rollers k,supported in carrier rings K. The'carrier or cradle rings I have flangesfi at theiredges to give them streng'thand to form tracks,Y for therollers 7c, which areopposed to tracks jz of the shell rings.

The carriages or cradles may be formed in' any suitable manner, but inthe drawings I have shown them as composed of sheet metal bodies c,semi-cylindrical in shape and reiny forced at each end by channel ironbars or yokes c', with straps or bands c2 attached to the ends of thechannel irons and passing over the tops of the rings I so that theweight and load of the carriage is carried by the tops rather than thebottoms of said rings. These straps c2 are preferably provided withturnbuckles c3, or devices of similar character to adjust their lengthsand the heights of the carriage.

Instead of the sheet of metal which vformsl the floor or body of thecarriage, it may be well known construction.

Each carriage is formed with a hollow longitudinal keel or strengtheningrib M, rigidly secured to the frame and preferably divided by transversepartitions m into compartments which may contain supplies of food andwater or air-tight tanks.

Secured to the ends ofthe keel boX are angle iron braces m which extendin under the ring I and give additional strength at this point.

At the sides of the carriage are formed seats N running lengthwise,which may also be V,divided by cross partitions into comparte ments tocontain supplies or air tanks.

In addition to the main flanges or internal ribs F, the shell isstrengthened annularly by intermediate ribs O, shaped as shown andspaced at suitable intervals. made in sections corresponding to thewidth of the longitudinal sections of the shell and where they meet atthe longitudinal seams of the shell the meeting ends lap past andtelevscope as shown in Fig. 11 so that base flanges These rings J areformed These ribs are of both ends may be securedV to the t'ee iron e bybolts or rivets. The carriage bottom is its outer surface and preferablyspaced intermediate the shell ribs O. In order that the catch basins H,on the tube flanges g, may always retain a vertical position regardlessof the rolling of the shell, a cross bar Q is arranged to be connectedat its ends to the ring I of the carriage or cradle and to have a saddleg formed at its center and adapted to bear up the inner end of thebasin; while a notch q in the bar, receives a rib hs on the basin sothat the basin and the rotatingV collar H on which it is mounted, arecompelled to follow the swing of the carriage rather than the roll ofthe shell.

At times it may be desirable to entirely close the opening through thecollar and above the basin, and to this end a rod R detachably restingin suitable catches r, on the lar and basin openings respectively, asshown in Fig. 5. l

It will be understood, of course, that the outer shell is provided withsuitable hatches or man-holes, and with covers therefor, and also withdead lights and other such appurtenances as are common and so well knownin the art that it is not deemed necessary to illustrate them in thisapplication.

Having thus described my inventionwhat I claim as new and useful landdesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a life boat, the combination 'of a cylindrical outer shellcomposed of sheet material .and divided into separable lengths orsections with inturne annular flanges at the abutting ends of thesections and U shaped annular rings which embrace each pair of flangesand means for securing the flanges and U shaped rings together to formwater tight oints, substantially as described.

2. In a life boat, the combination of a cylindrical outer shell composedof sheet material and divided into separable longitudinal sections, without-turned flanges at the abutting edges of the sections and U shapedWale strips embracing each pair of flanges, substantially as described.A

3. In a life boat, the combination of a cylindrical outer shell composedof sheet material and divided into separable longitudinal sections without-turned flanges at their abutting edges and U shaped wale stripsembracing each pair of flanges and having flanged feet which bearagainst the shell at each side of the flanges, substantially asdescribed.

4. Ina llfe boat, the combination of a-'cylindrical outer shell composedof sheet material and divided into separable longitudinal sections without-turned flanges at their abutting edges,teeironbarshaving theirbasesinside the shell and their Webs projecting outwardly and lying betweenthe flanges of adjacent sheets, with means for securing the flanges andtee irons together, substantially as described.

5. In a life boat, the combination of a cylindrical outer shell composedof sheet material and divided into separable longitudinal sections without-turned flanges at their abutting edges, tee iron bars having theirbases inside the shell and their webs projecting outwardly and lyingbetween the flanges of adjacent sheets, with U shaped Wale stripsembracing the flanges and intervening web of the tee iron and havingflanged feet which bear upon the outer surface of the shell,substantially as described.

6. In a life boat, the combination of a cylindrical outer shell,composed of sheet material and divided into separable longitudinal andtransverse sections, the sheets composing these sections being outwardlyflanged at their edges for the longitudinal seams and inwardly flangedat their ends for the annular seams, substantially as described.

'7. In a life boat, the combination of a cylindrical outer shellcomposed of sheet material and divided into separable longitudinal andtransverse sections, the sheets comprising these sections beingoutwardly flanged at their edges for the longitudinal seams and inwardlyflanged at their ends for the annular seams, and tee iron bars havingtheir webs lying outwardly between the flanges of the longitudinal seamsand their bases against the inside of the shell, with notches cut intothe ends of the inwardly turned annular flanges of the sheets for thebases of the tee irons, substantially as described.

8. In a life boat, the combination of a cylindrical outer shell composedof sheet material and divided into separable lengths or sections withinturned annular flanges at the abutting ends of the sections which formannular rings, annular bearing rings or tracks supported thereby, withan internal cradle or carriage in the shell, rotatable independently ofthe shell and supported by said annular bearing rings or tracks,substantially as described.

9. In a life boat, the combination of a cylindrical outer shell composedof sheet material and divided into separable lengths or sections withinturned annular flanges at the abutting ends of the sections andannular rings secured to the flange joints, and an internal carriageadapted to be supported by said annular rings and rotatableindependently of the shell, substantially as described.

l0. In a life boat, the combination of a cylindrical outer shellcomposed of sheet material and strengthened by internal annular flangedribs, a carriage in said shell adapted to rotate independently of theshell and annular bearing rings for supporting said carriage havingflanged feet which bear on the inner surface of the shell and verticalwebs which bear against and are secured to the sides of the shell ribsand overhangingflanges or heads which form the supporting track for thecarriage.

11. In a life boat, the combination of a cylindrical outer shell havingclosed ends with a central aperture through each end, a tube extendinginwardly froni each end and larger in some portion of its diameter thanthe aperture in the end of the shell, an inturned apertured flange atthe inner end of such tube. with an open frame work consisting of radialbrace rods which support the inner end of the tube from the shell,substantially as described.

12. In a life boat, the combination of a cylindrical outer shell havingclosed ends with a central aperture through each end, a tube extendinginwardly from each end and having an apertured flange at its inner end,a rotatable collar mounted in the aperture of the flange and aninwardlyprojecting catch basin attached to said collar, substantially asdescribed.

13. In a life boat, the combination of a cylindrical outer shell havingclosed. ends with a central aperture through each end, a tube extendinginwardly from each end, a centrally apertured flange on the inner end ofthe tube, a rotatable collar mounted in the aperture of the 'flange anda catch basin carried by said collar, with a carriage in the shell andindependently rotatable about the axis thereof, and means whereby thebasin and its collar are connected to the carriage so as to rotate inunison therewith, substantially as described.

14. In a life boat, the combination of a cylindrical outer shell havingclosedends with a central aperture through each end, a tube eX- tendinginwardly from each end and a centrally apertured flange on the inner endof' the tube, a rotatable collar mounted in the aperture of the flange,said collar comprising two side plates with meeting flanges on theirinner edges, anti-friction rolls between the side plates and bearing onthe inner edge of the tube flange, pivot bolts for said rolls withclamping nuts on their ends, and gasket packing rings on the adjacentfaces of the side plates near their peripheries, substantially as andfor the purpose described.

15. In a life boat, the combination of' a cylindrical outer shell havingclosed ends with a central aperture through each end, a tube eX- tendinginwardly from each end and a centrally apertured flange on the inner endof the tube, an open top basin supported in the opening of the flangeand extending inwardly therefrom, with hinged doors to close the openingin the flange above the basin, and to close the open top of" the basin,substantially as described.

16. In a life boat, the combination of a cylindrical outer shellcomposed of sheet Inatethe tee iron in the same7 substantially as derialand divided into separable longitudinal scribed.

sections With out-turned lianges at their lntestirnony whereof, I havesigned my abutting edges and tee iron bars between adname to thisspecication in the presence of 5 jacenlt llanges,(ishalped 1uselftiontllbs ling tWo subscribing Witnesses.

annuaryinsietese an aate to l meet at the longitudinal joints, theIldeeting ROBERT DAVID MAYO ends passing and telescoping at such jointsWitnesses:

so that the base llanges ofboth sections may WM. A. SKINKLE, 10 besecured to each other and to the base of S. C. BLAKE.

